Electric connecter



17, 1931. E" BALTZLEY 1,796,742

ELECTRIC CONNECTER Filed March 17, 1928 INVEN TOR.

I X TTORNEY Patented Mar.'17, 1931 PATENT OFFICE LOUIS E. BALTZLEY, FGLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY ELECTRIC CONNECTER Application filed March 17,1928.

I This invention relates particularly to quick detachably connecters ofthe cord plug type, in which separation can be effected-by a pull on thecord. The detachment of the plug inthis fashion places 'a strain on theelectrical conductors, tends to loosen the binding posts and in somecases results in injury to the receptacle or other apparatus with whichthe-plug is connected.

Special objects of the invention are to overcome these objections and tomake it possi ble to quickly and positively effect the separation of theplug from'the companion circuit member without straining the parts and,in the case of portable apparatus, such as an electric percolator,pressing iron or. the, like,

by a single handed operation and without disturbing or displacing'suchapparatus.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by certain'novelfeatures of construction, combinations and relations of parts, asillustrated in' the accompanying drawing and broadly covered in thefollow-' ing specification and claims.

y In the drawing several diiferent embodiments of the invention areillustrated, but it will be understood that thestructure may be modifiedand changed without departure from the true spirit and basic scope ofthe invention. I

-Figure 1 is a plan and part sectional view of'a form of the inventionembodied in a plug such as used with an electric coffee percolator orthe like. v

Figure 2 is a sectional View as on line 55 of Figure 1, illustrating the.ejector or separator in the position'it occupies after effectingseparatio Figure 3 is a part sectional view taken as on the central lineof separation of the plug and illustrating the thrust piece in the formof a sliding ribbon guided in a curved path between the upperand lowermembers of the plug body.

4 Figure 4 is a sectional viewlofflthe latter Serial No. 262,433.

of the type employed with electric percolators and the like and areshown as made up of companion insulating base sections 23 securedtogether by screws 24: and containing spring contact socket members 25,26, set in correspondingly shaped recesses 27 between the insulatingblocks in position to receive the pro ecting contact pins 28 on thepercolator or other electrical device 29 which forms the companionconnecting element of the plug.

In these particular forms of the invention, the separating means is madein two parts, positioned to act against the contact pins of the othermember of the coupling and actuated by push buttons positioned to begripped between a thumb and finger of one hand. i

The separating devices shown in Figures 1 and 2 consist of narrow bladesor bars 30 of generally triangular shape, each pivoted in one corner ona pin 31 and having one end projecting inwardly with a rounded camsurface 32 to engage the tip of thecontact'pin and a shorter arm 33slidingly engaging a .slot '34 in the head 35 at the inner end of a pushbutton 36. These push buttons project from opposite sides of the plug,being guided in cooperating concavities 37 formed in the meeting facesof the blocks. The separating levers 30 are similarly guided in flatcooperating recesses 38 in the opposing faces of the blocks and thepivot pins 31 may simply be loose pins extending through the levers intoseats formed in the opposing faces of 85 the blocks.

The pin ejecting arm of the lever is guided and at the same timefrictionally retained in position by extending in between the two springsocket members 25, 26 of the contact. As the plug is engaged with themember with which it is designed to cooperate, it will be .seenthat thecontact pins will. push back the separating levers into the positionindicated in Figure 1 with the push buttons fully exposed at the sidesof the plug and that to separate the plug it is simply necessary topinch the push buttons together between the thumb and forefinger of onehand, this-action rocking the levers and causing them by en? gagementwith the ends of the pins to, positively push the plug away from theother member of the circuit.

In the form ofthe invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the separatingmembers are inthe form of ribbons or strips 39, working in curvilinearguide-slots 40, extending inwardly from opposite sides of the plug andthence longitudinally so as to bring the ends each spring contact 41 issplit longitudinally at 42 and slotted longitudinally at 43 to providespring contact tongues 44 for gripping the contact pins each at 'fourdifi'erent substantially equally spaced points or lines of contact. Theslots 42 also provide a passageway for the inner ends of the strips or,flexible plungers. The intermediate curved por- 'tionsof these plungersare longitudinally slotted as indicated at 45 to receive the base orshank portions of the contacts 41.

In the described forms of the invention, the separatingmechanism isentirely housed Within the plug structure and can be incorporated in theplug, without materially adding tot-he weight or bulk of the plug. The

parts also arequite inexpensive and easily assembled. Inthe form shownin Figures 1 and 2, where the separating arm of the thrust lever slidesbetween the opposing socket contacts, said contacts are kept clean andbright by such wiping action.

The opposed push buttonsprovide a convenient-grip for handling the plugand as they sink into thesides of the plug, let the fingers whichactuate them, come ,to rest against the solid side portions of the plug.

What is claimed is:

' 1 1. In electric connecters, a plughaving cord terminals and.contacts, substantially oppositely disposed actuators on said .plug andmeans operated thereby to positively'shift said plug away from acompanion member with which the pl is engageable.

2. A cord termi al plug having a circuitcontact, a plug shifting leverpivoted in said plug to exert thrust in one direction against part of acooperating member with which the plug may be engaged and a push buttonoperating at an angle to the direction of thrust of said lever forpositively operating said lever" to thrust said plug away from themember "with which it cooperates.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an electric connector plug body, amanually operable push button guided for movement in said plug body, aseparator mounted in the plug body for operation'by said push button anda contact mounted in the plug body and guiding said separator formovement in a direction to exert a separating thrust against a portionof a member with which said connector plug is designed to cooperate.

4. As an article of manufacture, an electric connector plug having aseparator movably mounted therein and provided with external operatingmeans and a contact in the plug having a guiding engagement with saidseparator and directing said separator in a line of travel to exert aseparating thrust against a portion of a member with which the plug isintended to cooperate.

5. As anew article of manufacture, an electric connector plug having anexposed push button, an ejector operating within the plug and positionedto be actuated by said push button and a contact in the plug guidingsaid ejector to exert a separating thrust against a portion of a memberwith which the plug is designed to cooperate.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an electric connector plug havingpush buttons exposed at opposite sides of the same in position to bepinched between the fingers of one hand and plug separating meansactuated by said push buttons to exert a separating thrust against-aportion'of a companion member to which .the plug is intended to becoupled.

7. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination with amember having a contact and a detachable plug member having a companioncontact and separating means'carried by said plug member positioned andoperating in said plug member to exert a positive separating thrustagainst the contact of the first member to effect separation of the plugfrom said first member.

8. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a member having pin,contacts, a detachable 'plug having sockets to receive said pincontacts and carrying cooperating contacts in said sockets and plugseparating means positioned and operating in the plug member to exert apositive endwise separating thrust against the pin contacts whenthelatter are entered in the sockets of the plug.

9. In apparatus-of the character disclosed, a member having pincontacts; a detachable plug having sockets to receive said pin contactsand carrying cooperating contacts in said sockets and plug separatingmeans positioned and operating in the plug to engage the pin contactswhen the latter are entered in the sockets 'of the plug andexposed-push;

buttons on the plug for actuating said plug separating means.

10. A detachable cord plug having electric contact means for engagementwith compan- ,contact means for engagement with comjpamon contact meansof a member with which said plug is designed to cooperate, a separatoroperable in the plug to exert a longitudinal thrust against a portion ofsaid cooperating member and transversely operable grip devicesprojecting at opposite sides of the plug and connected to operate saidlongitudinally thrusting separating means thereby enabling theseparation of the plug to .be effected by a transverse pinching forcesuch as would be exerted by the fingers of a hand encircling the plug,said separating vert a transverse movement thereon into a longitudinalthrust against the projecting contact.

15. In combination with an electrical device, having projecting contactpins, a separable connector plug socketed to engage over said contactpins and having contact elements to cooperate with said pins, movableseparator means guided in the plug to engage the ends of said contactpins when the latter are entered in the plug and exposed actuating meansfor said separator means, said ejector means including rocking leverspivoted in the plug and angled to convert transverse movements thereoninto longitudinal thrust movements against the contact ends.

16. A separable connector plug, comprising a plug body having contactsfor engagement with cooperating contacts of an electrical device andangled levers pivoted in said plug body and provided with finger piecesat their outer ends and adapted to exert longitudinal separating thrustsat their inner ends.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LOUIS E. BALTZLEY.

means being guided and housed within the V plug at all times, the plughaving a contact socket to receive a projecting contact of thecooperating device and said ejecting means being guided for movement inline with said contact socket to thereby engage a projecting contactentered in said contact socket.

12. In combination with an electrical device having a projectingcontact, a separable connector plug socketed to receive said projectingcontact and having a contact element to cooperatively engage theprojecting contact when the latter is entered in the socket of the plug,a separator guided in the plug for engagement with the projectingcontact when the latter is entered in the plug socket and exposedoperating means for said separator. V

' 13. In'combination with an electrical device, havingprojecting contactpins, a separable connector plug socketed to engage over said contactpins and having contact el'e mentsto cooperate with said pins, movableseparator means guided-in the'plug to en gage the ends of said contactpins when the latter are entered in the plug and exposed actuating meansfor said separator means. 7 14. In combination with an electrical devicehaving a projecting contact, a separable connector plug socketed toreceive said projecting contact and having a contact element tocooperatively engage the projecting contact when the latter is enteredin the socket of the plug, a separator guided in the plug for engagementwith the projecting contact when the latter is entered in the plugsocket and exposed.operating means for said separator, said separatorincluding a rocking lever pivoted in the plug and angled to con-

